Hawaii, episode 4. In which we meet and swap.

It wasn't a difficult decision.

Back in July 2004, I decided the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet was my favorite fleamarket.

It wasn't because it was my first visit.

It wasn't about the first item (pair of items actually) I purchased, either, that spawned the dawn of a new and favorite collection. (More below.)

It also wasn't about the incredibly refreshing Arnold Palmer (my first ever introduction to the magical blend of freshly brewed iced tea and freshly squeezed lemonade) we enjoyed like some magical restorative elixir halfway round our stadium circumnavigation.

No, my singularly superlative declaration wasn't for any one reason in particular except that the Aloha flea is... well, it's in Hawaii.

The setting perfect, the variety of goods colorful and colorfully enticing, and the aloha spirit among locals and transplanted locals is at its aloha best.

Before I present my picked keepsakes, I thought I would share some images from our recent visit. More than anything my thousand words can say, these pictures should prove perfectly persuasive.

We learned during our first visit that the swap meet is the best place for souvenirs. There is an incredible variety of goods and lots of competition for your remaining vacation dollars.

I also learned during that otherwise overwhelming first visit that all I needed for a good swap was some good old Hawaiian currency. Perhaps during the original days of swap meets, I would have benefited from bringing some livestock or fresh produce for barter, but (thankfully) those days are long gone.

At left, a local tour company is well-placed to catch the attention of adventurers.

While not natural, these souvenir leis and adornments will last long after your visit.

Colorful souvenir displays abound throughout the fleamarket.

You will find lots of local flora, both faux...

... and au naturel.

Along with island souvenirs, typically fleamarketable finds can be found flourishing in the mix.

Household goods, both old and new abound within the inner circle of early morning vendors, closest to the stadium.

On our most recent visit, however, Mari and I were disappointed to find just a handful of vendors reselling vintage goods.

Perhaps it was our slightly extended balcony breakfast followed by the hour-long bus ride (take the #42 TheBus from Waikiki for direct service) that found us swapping slightly later than planned, but many of the secondhand vendors had packed up and were onto other adventures by the time we were beginning our own.

Luckily, Mari and I did come across a few locals willing to wait out late morning tourists as we walked our circuit round the stadium.

I have plenty of picked treasures to share with you throughout the next few weeks, but I thought I should start with the Swedish souvenir Dalahäst (painted wooden horse) I mentioned in the first episode of this series.

Mari had debated purchasing the colorful souvenir during our Estocolmo shore excursion last summer, and he ultimately remained behind (but not forgotten) in multiple Stockholm souvenir shops.

Fast forward twelve months and there he was once more, prancing his colorful way into Mari's heart and ultimately into her fleamarket tote for all of two dollars.

The friendly former musician who swapped with Mari that Sunday morning had toured throughout Europe in his former life, picking up souvenirs along the way which he was now releasing into the fleamarket wild years later.

At left are the first items I picked up on a Honolulu morning 14 years earlier.

These are my first two snuff bottles and the beginning of a most treasured collection.

I hope to share the complete colorfully eclectic display with you some day soon. Stay tuned!

As mentioned previously with a recent pictured pick (California, here we come, episode 4), I have always had an affinity for Chinese culture and artisan craftsmanship. Fleamarketed snuff bottles became a perfectly portable expression of said craft.

When I came across these two reverse-painted glass beauties (each stands barely three inches high), I knew I wanted to continue admiring them in my own home. I'm not sure I was bubble-wrap-packing back in 2004, but my first foray into a new collection made its way safely back to South Texas where the precious pair would eventually evolve into an eclectic collection curated from fleamarket travels throughout the United States.

After last week's revisit to Byodo-In Temple, Mari reminded me that she had also purchased a vintage obi from Elizabeth Kent. At left is my best attempt to capture the beautiful textures and colors of Mari's anniversary souvenir. The intricately detailed patterns and vibrant colors of the silk sash extend deep beyond the limitations of the photo (the sash measures just over five feet) and will forever remind us of a special afternoon.

While we have yet to fleamarket the Far East, Mari and I frequently encounter colorfully crafted artifacts that continually tempt our travel taste buds.



In the meantime, there is much more to explore at Aloha Stadium, so I'll return with you next week to share more swap meet treats.